Chapter 581
Carissa and Rafael spoke in hushed tones, their conversation inaudible to the maid and guard. Despite straining to listen, the maid and guard's anxiety was palpable. After a considerable pause, Rafael nodded.
“Alright then, we’ll head to the capital together,” Carissa announced.
The maid sighed in relief. “Thank you, Lady Sinclair. You are truly a saint.”
“What’s your name?” Carissa asked.
The maid bowed. “My name is Greta.”
Carissa turned to the guard. “And you?”
“My name is Dustin,” the guard replied gruffly.
Though sturdy and seemingly honest, Carissa knew appearances could be deceiving. She asked a few more questions, but gained little additional information, realizing she wouldn't learn anything significant from them.
At suppertime, a pinch of Sebastian’s colorless, tasteless powder rendered Dustin, Greta, and the driver unconscious. Carmen then knelt before Carissa and Rafael, with Violet listening silently nearby.
Carmen’s eyes were filled with distress and urgency. “My mother, Grand Princess Eleanor, originally wanted me to seduce Prince Rafael and ruin your relationship. She hoped you two would turn against each other, believing my martial arts skills and His Highness's preference for such women would make me suitable for the task.
“However, I refused. I knew that even if I succeeded, she wouldn’t release my real mother. My twin sister, Celeste, married into the Earl of Gracehold’s family and completed her assigned task, but she still has another mission. My mother is imprisoned in Harmony Palace’s dungeon, deprived of proper food and clothing.
“Your Highness, Your Grace, I implore you to rescue my mother. In return, I will be eternally in your debt, serving you faithfully in this life and the next.”
“How many siblings do you have?” Carissa asked. She knew Eleanor had numerous concubines, but the number of their children remained unknown.
“I don’t know how many were born, but eight are still alive. We have no brothers; they were all killed at birth,” Carmen replied.
Violet’s anger flared. “Doesn’t your father care? His own children are being killed!”
A flash of anger crossed Carmen’s face. “Care? He’s powerless and unwilling to confront the Grand Princess. He fears her retaliation against the Kingsley family.”
Violet shook her head. “I just don’t understand. Why can’t these matters be brought to the king or the queen dowager?”
Carmen’s eyes burned with hatred. “Grand Princess Eleanor is ruthless and leaves no evidence. Without evidence, neither the king nor the queen dowager would investigate Harmony Palace.”
Carissa explained to Violet, “Grand Princess Eleanor’s mother, Lady Chloe, was a favorite of King Augustus, who consequently favored Eleanor as well. After Lady Chloe’s death, Eleanor was placed in Lady Ruth’s care.
“Since Grand Princess Eleanor and King Sigmund were siblings, certain matters were overlooked. Now, with a new king on the throne, he’s even less likely to intervene in family matters. He’ll only act with clear evidence and strong pressure from ministers.”
Carmen added, “Unfortunately, my mother harbors no gratitude towards King Augustus. She blames him for not arranging a marriage for her with—Your Grace’s father—instead marrying her off to the declining Kingsley family. She deeply resents him for that.
“The Kingsley family, under my grandfather’s third generation of hereditary titles, was about to lose its title. But my father’s marriage to Grand Princess Eleanor extended its influence for two more generations. The Kingsley family entirely relies on Grand Princess Eleanor; they would never oppose her.”
Recalling a past event, Rafael said, “One year, at the year-end palace banquet, I saw Lord Kingsley hiding in a rock garden. He was drunk and crying. Because I was young, he confided in me about his family’s troubles.
“He said a concubine’s child had been killed after she argued with the Grand Princess, who had thrown the child to its death and harmed the concubine.”